Self-reactive B cells in nonautoimmune and autoimmune mice.
The defining feature of autoimmune disease is the presence of specific autoreactive lymphocytes. Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), for example, is characterized by a discrete set of antibodies directed to nuclear antigens; these include autoantibodies to DNA and snRNPs that are diagnostic for SLE. The murine model of SLE, the MRL-lpr/lpr mouse, likewise, has a similar autoantibody profile. To understand how SLE-associated autoantibodies are regulated in healthy individuals and to identify mechanisms underlying their expression in autoimmunity, we have developed a transgenic (tg) model system using multiple sets of tgs. The development of B cells bearing these tgs has been studied in BALB/c and MRL-lpr/lpr autoimmune backgrounds, and the relative fates of anti-ssDNA and anti-dsDNA tg B cells when they are a part of a diverse as well as monoclonal B cell repertoire have been evaluated.
Erikson
J
J
Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA. jan@wista.wistar.upenn.edu
Mandik
L
L
Bui
A
A
Eaton
A
A
Noorchashm
H
H
Nguyen
K A
KA
Roark
J H
JH
D000818:Animals; D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear / Q000276:immunology; D001324:Autoantigens / Q000276:immunology*; D015551:Autoimmunity; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008817:Mice, Mutant Strains
D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear; D001324:Autoantigens